We want to update Microsoft System Center 2012 R2 to the current version 2016. Our servers are configured with more than 8 cores per processor and more than 16 cores per server. With this update, what needs to be done to achieve a full license coverage?

Microsoft offers its customers so called „additional core license grants“ which serve to guarantee the license base of the servers. However, customers are obligated to document the configuration of their infrastructure by means of the Software Inventory Logging tool (SIL) or an equivalent software. The documentation must take place before the expiration of the Software Assurance or no later than September 30, 2019.

The same applies for the following products:

• Microsoft Windows Server
• Microsoft Core Infrastructure Suite

Source: Microsoft Product Terms, October 2016